5 hotels that combine chic and ecology

Lydia Bacrie | 9/7/24, 2:19 PM

Perfect for guilt-free travel, these five refuges combine contemporary elegance with respect for all eco-responsible standards. From Brittany to Corsica, from Belle Ile to the Loire Valley, five warm, luxurious addresses committed to a truly ecological approach.

Much more than a trend, it's a groundswell. We are increasingly aware of the ecological commitment of the hotels and guesthouses where we decide to stay, making this approach one of the major criteria in our choices. To combine ethics and travel pleasure, here is our selection of refuges that are pioneers in this respect for the planet, without ever forgetting comfort and refinement.

In Brittany, La Grée des Landes

On the heights of the village of Glacilly, this eco-hotel with the look of a tall ship belongs to the Yves Rocher cosmetics house, which has designed it entirely in an ecological manner. Green roofs, photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting, filtering gardens... La Grée des Landes has earned every label (green globe, for example).La Grée des Landes has earned every label (green globe, European ecolabel...) and offers guests the rare privilege of perfect harmony with nature.As soon as you arrive, the tone is set with the discovery of 28 ecological rooms, vegetal suites and a cabin, all fitted out with organic bedding.all fitted out with 100% organic bedding and raw materials, and extended by private terraces from which you can see century-old trees inhabited by over 50 varieties of birds. An ideal place to recharge your batteries, savouring the organic and locavore delights of the Les Jardins Sauvages restaurant or the exceptional spa treatments with personalized wellness programmes. Last but not least, works of art are scattered around the estate, again in homage to nature.

Double room from 287 euros
Cournon 56200 La Glacilly. Tel: 02 99 08 50 50
www.lagreedeslandes.com

In Hauts-de-France, Le Bruit de l'Eau

In the heart of the Bay of the Somme, one of France's wildest and most unspoilt areas, this estate brings together seven ecolodges designed with a bioclimatic approach and decorated in a purely Japanese style.Japanese purity - rice paper partitions, light wood and bamboo furniture - all open to nature through immense bay windows. Visitors to Le Bruit de l'Eau can enjoy birdwatching in the woods and ponds, take a walk or go horseback riding in the forest and admire the stars, before savoring the delights of a Nordic bath or a massage by the MAA essentielles botanical skincare brand. At the heart of the Objectif zéro carbone collective is an exceptional place - a precious refuge for both body and spirit.

Double room from 295 euros
1 chemin des Matelots 80120 Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont. Tel: 07 69 66 65 94
www.lebruitdeleau.org

tibo - bestjobersblog

Château de l'Epinay in the Loire Valley

Close to Angers, the Château de l'Epinay with its gargoyle-adorned facade is first and foremost a piece of history. Built in the XIIᵉ century, enlarged in the XVᵉ and transformed into a hotel in 2004, today it unfolds around 24 rooms and suites decorated with Louis XVI furniture, grand fireplaces and crystal chandeliers. Far from allowing itself to be trapped in the past, the place has, on the contrary, committed itself to a very contemporary ecological approach with a natural swimming pool, a permaculture vegetable garden that supplies the kitchens of the excellent table l'Orangerie or sustainable water management. A magical address that artfully blends luxury and ecology.

Double room from 213 euros
Lieu-dit de l'Epinay 49170 Saint-Georges sur Loire. Tel: 02 41 39 87 05
www.chateauepinay.com

Belle-Île-en-Mer, Castel Clara

Unquestionably one of Brittany's finest hotels, with its two white buildings overlooking the lagoon-blue waters of Anse de Goulphar, in the heart of Belle Ile en Mer. At Castel Clara, we love it all... the 63 rooms and suites with their maritime decor, natural materials and blond wood furniture; the simple, tasty cuisine of Café Clara and the more sophisticated, gourmetor the wellness area with its seawater pool featuring underwater jets, balneotherapy area and marine cure programs... What's more, the entire hotel has been designed with eco-responsibility in mind (solar water heater, photovoltaic panels, planet-friendly cleaning products), which in 2010 enabled Castel Clara to become France's first eco-labeled thalasso establishment.

Double room from 161 euros
Port Goulphar 56360 Bangor. Tel: 02 97 31 84 21
www.castel-clara.com

Marco Strullu - David Grimbert

In Bonifacio, U Capu Biancu

One of Corsica's best-kept secrets, and all the better for it. In the heart of the Sant'Amanza golf course nature reserve, the four-star Hôtel U Capu Biancu houses 39 rooms and suites. Decorated according to owner Sylvie Limongi's inspiration - stone walls, exposed beams, furniture sourced from local flea markets, driftwood mezzanine - all open onto the sumptuous terrace. all open onto a sumptuous swimming pool, palm-fringed gardens and the terrace of the main restaurant, where you can enjoy freshly caught fish, refreshed by a glass of wine from the estate's vineyards. A magical address, acclaimed by nature lovers who also applaud the ecological approach of the place, a member of the Rispettu network, which brings together Corsican hotels and residences committed to sustainable and responsible tourism.

Room from 523 euros
Lieu dit ricetti Domaine de Pozzoniello 20169 Bonifacio. Tel: 04 95 73 05 58
www.ucapubiancu.com

Afurther escape, also in Paris... Hidden Hôtel

A stone's throw from the Champs-Élysées, but far from the hustle and bustle of the capital, this is the kind of hotel we love, discreet and refined, with 35 rooms decorated in soft tones, pure lines and 100% eco-friendly bedding in natural latex and coconut fibers. On the first floor of the Hidden Hotel, the lounge is a living space in its own right, welcoming guests from the (tasty) breakfast to evening cocktails accompanied by tapas and homemade dishes. All these initiatives reflect the global approach of this Green Globe-certified establishment, the world's first environmental certification program designed for the travel and tourism industry.

Double room from 180 euros
28 rue de l'Arc de Triomphe 75017 Paris. Tel: 01 40 55 03 57
www.hidden-hotel.com

These news might interest you

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

There are villages that you can only reach by slowing down. Listed, yes, but above all, they've remained intact, clinging to the hillside, curled up in a river bend or set at the end of a path that nobody takes by chance. You often arrive at the end of the day, when the light is catching on the tiles, the shutters are slamming gently and the smell of wet wood is wafting up from the alleyways. And there, behind a wrought-iron gate or a monumental portal, is a hotel. Sometimes it's a three-bedroom attic hotel, sometimes it's a five-star hotel in a lovingly restored former maison de maître. Marble has replaced cob, swimming pools have taken the place of former orchards, but the soul has remained. You'll sleep in the folds of the landscape, between centuries-old stone and precise service, in a rare luxury that doesn't seek to outshine the place. Les Bories & Spa in Gordes Here, ancient bories still dot the fields, as if the shepherds had just left. Some have been discreetly integrated into Les Bories & Spa, without breaking the line of the dry stonework. The farmhouse extends over eight hectares of olive and cypress trees, and under the roof tiles are 34 light-filled rooms, some of them in an old farmhouse. Luxury is discreet: plant-covered terraces, an enveloping spa and a glazed pool overlooking the Luberon. A peaceful address, just a few bends from the ochre silhouettes of Gordes and Roussillon. Price: €342 per night Where? 9 Route de Senanque, 84220 Gordes. Tel. 04 90 72 00 51See Gault&Millau's review of Les Bories & Spa Le Bailliage in Salers at the entrance to Salers, a listed village with gray lava houses and sculpted balconies, Le Bailliage has been perpetuating a sincere art of living for three generations. Since 2020, Antoine and Marion Bancarel, heirs to the house, have taken over the reins with discreet elegance. In this 23-room hotel, everything has been thoughtfully redesigned: intimate spa, homemade cuisine, no-frills welcome. The meat comes from the family's own farm, the rooms overlook the old gardens, and the air, at an altitude of a thousand metres, has that taste of meadows that you never forget. A warm and welcoming address, in the image of the village. Price: €124 per night 31 Rue Notre Dame, 15140 Salers. Tel : 04 71 40 71 95See Gault&Millau's review of Les Baillages La Capitelle in Mirmande Behind the light-colored walls of a house once inhabited by painter André Lhote, La Capitelle watches over the rooftops of this Drôme village with its Provencal palette. Eight sober, peaceful rooms, with views of the Ardèche mountains or the Rhône valley, extend the discreet charm of the sloping streets. Just eleven simple, bright rooms, a restaurant with slates that change according to the season, and the quiet attention of Ludivine and Sylvain Croce, who run the house with constancy. Price: €102 per night 1 rue du Boulanger- 26270, Mirmande. Tel : 04 75 63 02 72See Gault&Millau's review of La Capitelle Coquillade Provence Resort & Spa in Bonnieux Set in the heart of a 30-hectare vineyard, this hamlet unfurls its 63 rooms and suites, with their sober, mineral lines, over the landscapes of the Luberon. The Tata Harper spa, 2,000 m² of calm and light, offers lavender and grape treatments in a plant-based atmosphere. In the kitchen, Pierre Marty, a Ducasse disciple with Monaco and Macao experience, orchestrates the Avelan gastronomic table: five-course menu, raw-marinated sea bream from Grau du Roi, poultry Pithiviers... Patisserie by Aurélien Trousse, medallist at the French Dessert Championships. Here, Provence is expressed with precision, right down to the plate. Price: €497 per night Route du Perrotet, 84400 Gargas. Tel. : 04 90 74 71 71 See Gault&Millau's review of Coquillade Provence Resort & Spa Château de Troplong Mondot in Saint-Émilion Restored in 2019, Troplong Mondot cultivates the art of entertaining as an extension of the land. The main building, with its sober, warm lines, houses a communal lounge where the fire crackles on winter evenings. Here you can read, chat or simply watch the day fall over the rows of vines. In summer, the private terrace of each house opens onto the paths lined with low walls, typical of the local landscape. The rooms, divided between several of the estate's buildings, combine blond wood, deep fabrics and unobstructed views as far as the Saint-Émilion bell tower. In the morning, chef David Charrier serves a generous breakfast of seasonal fruit, homemade jams and warm pastries. Nothing ostentatious, but attention to every gesture, in a place that invites you to retreat. Price: €250 per night Château Troplong, Mondot - 33330 Saint-Laurent-des-Combes. Tel : 05 57 55 32 05See Gault&Millau's review of Château de Troplong Mondot Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey in Sauternes Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey watches over the vines like a peaceful old soul. The estate, a famous premier grand cru classé, is now home to a hotel signed Lalique, thirteen rooms and suites subtly laid out in a 17thᵉ century château. Walls in reds and pinks evoking wine, antique beams and chiseled crystal faucets: every detail is a delicate nuance. Settle into the small lounge to enjoy a drink before joining, under the luminous glass roof, chef Jérôme Schilling's gastronomic table. A rare place of discreet elegance. Price: €504 per night 1707 Route des Gourgues, Lieu-dit Peyraguey- 33210 Bommes. Tel : 05 24 22 80 11See Gault&Millau's review of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey Les Sources de Cheverny in Cheverny Les Sources de Cheverny is a gentle hamlet designed for sharing, in the wine-growing lands of the Loire Valley. at reception, the lacquered green box recalls the forest rangers' kiosks. The 49 rooms and suites, designed by Alice Tourbier and studio be-pôles, feature antiques, a bohemian atmosphere and lush natural views. The Caudalie spa, with its sober lines and recycled materials, has slipped into the old building, like a contemporary echo of the neighboring château's beams. On the terrace, sip a wine from the estate, the prelude to a Michelin-starred dinner in the Favori dining room. An elegant address, anchored in this Sologne village with its rich Loire heritage. Price: €279 per night 23 route de Fougère- 41700 Cheverny. Tel : 02 54 44 20 20See Gault&Millau's review of Les Sources de Cheverny Royal Champagne Hôtel & Spa in Champillon Behind the walls of a former coaching inn lies another world: a vast 10,000 m² contemporary hotel, designed by architect Giovanni Pace, where champagne flows more often than coffee. The 49 rooms, suspended between vineyards and classified forest, offer the luxury of not rushing into anything. at the table, Christophe Raoux, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, orchestrates gourmet cuisine served on a terrace bordered by rose bushes and a very real kitchen garden. The spa, immense and hushed, is as much for guests as for curious neighbors. And if you listen carefully, you can still hear Dom Pérignon whispering from the bell tower of Hautvillers. Price: €1,041 per night 9 rue de la République- 51160 Champillon. Tel : 03 26 52 87 11See Gault&Millau's review of Royal Champagne Hôtel & Spa

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

A refuge between land and sea

There are places that make you never want to go home again once you've pushed open the door. Solène and Nicolas Conraux's La Butte is one of them.

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

At the heart of the Paris of arts and culture, Le Meurice, the first Parisian luxury hotel

Every month, Gault&Millau plunges you into the history of a great Parisian palace. In May, discover the first Parisian hotel to be called a "palace": Le Meurice.

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

Castel Clara: the new teen cure that reconciles thalassotherapy and Gen Z in Belle-Île-en-Mer

Castel Clara, Belle-Île-en-Mer's iodine star, inaugurates a cure designed for 14-18 year-olds. A first: posture, skin, stress and a balanced diet are on the menu for a week of well-being.

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

Road trip in the South: 6 hotels to stop at between Marseille and Nice

Curves that smell of heated pine, lunch breaks that are too long, and that end-of-day light that sticks to your rear-view mirrors. There are a thousand ways to take your time... and as many hotels to do it in style.

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

5 hotels that will make you love art

More and more museums and collectors are offering hospitality to their visitors, allowing them to discover the works in a unique immersive experience. Here are our favorite addresses, all of which combine luxury, art and pleasure.